Mohd Joehari resigns over personal reason - FAM acting president

PETALING JAYA - Datuk Mohd Joehari Mohd Ayub's resignation as Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president recently was merely a personal decision.

Acting FAM president Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi even said that there was no 'unknown hand' behind Mohd Joehari's decision to relinquish the number one position of the governing body that oversees national football.

"I don't know. This is his (Mohd Joehari's) personal decision... Why and how, I can't answer what it is.

"What is important is that we, the exco (Executive Committee), follow our constitution. We will bring it to the meeting, everyone agrees and respects his decision,” he said at a press conference here, today.

On Wednesday, FAM in a statement confirmed that Mohd Joehari had expressed his intention to step down as president through a resignation letter sent recently.

Therefore, the FAM Executive Committee was called for a second special meeting for 2025-2029 term at Wisma FAM Kelana Jaya, chaired by Mohd Yusoff as deputy president to discuss the matter.

FAM also said the Executive Committee had agreed to name Mohd Yusoff as acting president of FAM with immediate effect, in line with the provisions of the FAM Statute.

According to Article 42, Paragraph 7 in the FAM Statute, if the position of president is vacant, the longest serving deputy president will replace him until the next congress, which is next year.

Earlier, Mohd Joehari held the position of vice president and was the eighth FAM president and the first individual from Sabah to lead the body as the national football chief, replacing Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin.

Mohd Joehari was appointed to replace Hamidin after winning unopposed at the FAM Electoral Congress for the 2025-2029 term, in February.

Asked about the possibility of former national football player Safee Sali or former Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin becoming the next FAM president as previously reported by the media, Mohd Yusoff said the assumption was merely speculation played by outside parties.

"There are more names coming out, especially in the run-up to the congress. So I consider all of that to be speculation and ultimately the decision is still in the hands of the affiliates," he said. - BERNAMA